Betrayal by Steven L. Kent, The Clone
Rebellion #5Earth, 2516 A.D. Humans populate the six arms of the Milky Way Galaxy. The oppressive Unified Authority controls Earth's colonies with a powerful military made up almost entirely of clones - until the alien Avatari seize control of all but two planets.
After staging a final stand to defend New Copenhagen from the advancing alien enemy, Lieutenant Wayson Harris and his fellow clone survivors are sent to an isolated relocation camp. The military brass are looking for someone to blame for the decimation of the U.A. Republic, and who better than those who were born to be sacrificed? But lieutenant Harris is determined to fight back, with all the fire power he can muster...
Betrayal is the fifth book in the Clone
Rebellion series by Steven L. Kent and marks the halfway point in the series.
The Clone Rebellion is currently mapped out to run 10 books in total. For some
of you it might not have escaped your notice that I am a huge fan of this
series. It all started earlier this year with Republic that was released in the
March SF month of Titan Books. I was hooked from the start. So far the first
four books in the series have shown a lot of action, universe building and diversity
in the storyline all thrown in the mix with a healthy dose of military humor.
Storywise the series has seen some great
developments, with the focus first on the Mogat separatists in the first three
books, which was subsequently linked with the Avatari invasion in Elite (#4) and
now in Betrayal (#5), it seems that the last drop of water has finally broken
the dam (don’t know if that’s a correct proverb, but it is definitely fitting
for what transpires in Betrayal).
Betrayal picks up after the events of
Elite, where Wayson Harris had just fought of the Avatari invasion on New
Copenhagen. With the introduction of aliens in his storyline, Steven L. Kent
ventured into a new direction heretofore no aliens had made it into his story.
They were introduced in the background of Alliance but came to full emphasis
and show in Elite. Now after the events of Elite, the United Authority is left
decimated, having lost a lot of people on New Copenhagen. Bad decisions were
made by the controlling parties but instead of lying fault with themselves,
they just stick it up to the expandable ones, the clones, and this is the last
drop that breaks the dam.
I already mentioned in my earlier reviews
that Wayson is going through a transition discovering more of his own free
thoughts and over feeling toward his “makers”, being a Liberator clone he is
still programmed to follow orders but is able to think more for himself than a
standard clone. However is seems that the events in the earlier books and
mainly book 3 and 4 are starting to shape Wayson’s opinion more and more. And
in Betrayal he just has had enough, he is now out for justice and revenge, and
being a Liberator clone, the Unified Authority will have their battles picked
out for them.
The story of Betrayal starts off with events
that make Wayson readily “pissed-off” to his commanders but the events of the
actual betrayal aren’t set into motion until the halfway mark of the book,
firstly Wayson is tasked to rid the planet of Terraneau of a remaining Avatari
invasion. For a little help, Wayson get the support of the Suctum-Crux Fleet
this time. The fighting force that is dispatched to Terraneau is a mix
natural-borns and clones, and after liberating the planet the natural-borns are
send back, now this is a interesting point in the storyline as the betrayal now
further sets in. Wayson receives letters from Brocius stating three words but
the last has the most impact, Ravenwood. For you who have read the first books
might now what this means… this hallmarks an important point in the book and
the series overall. I’ll stick with mentioning these events of the book, as the
rest you really have to read for yourself, you’ll be in for a surprise.
Betrayal isn’t just coming from the
clones, another important character besides Wayson in the series so far was Ray
Freeman, a huge lumbering giant of a man who rather shoots than talks. Ray
Freeman appears only later in the books and when he does I actually felt bad for
Wayson, they had this on-off/love-hate relationship. I don’t know what to think
of the events that happened but I hope they can be buds again since they make a
great duo.
A new character that is added to the storyline
is that of Ava Gardner, a highly popular actress back on Earth, who also found
out that she is a clone. Steven L. Kent mentions in the back of the book that the
series has a focus on male characters, there are hardly any female characters
in the book. With Ava Gardner, Steven L. Kent introduces an interesting
development in Wayson’s character, Ava is also shipped out since she is clone,
but being the only female clone on an all male clone battleship, Ava seeks
“refuge” by Wayson and appeals to his officer standards. This relation later
provides an romancing aspect in the story but it all starts of rather fragile.
Ava doesn’t really know what to think of Wayso, being thrown from a life of
luxury into a military life. Wayson, being the typical hard-ass military clone
with his often snide and sarcastic comments didn’t really help to start it off.
This relationship even furthered the coming-to-understand-yourself aspect of
Wayson, as he start to being more open starts talking about his life. This
might have felt a bit rushed into the story, but it does follow a clear path.
Betrayal hallmarks an important turn
point of The Clone Rebellion series that will take this series just that step
further. In books one to four there were important discoveries and developments
both regarding the story and the characters in the series, and they all work
perfectly in setting up the events in Betrayal. Every book so far has been a
action packed and fast paced ride through several arms of the universe.. Steven
L. Kent creates in his book the right balance between high tech space opera,
brutal military sci-fi and all livened up with a healthy dose of marine humor.
If you’re a sci-fi fan and haven’t read this series. Shame on you.